Flood Warning on Garden Upgrades

The expensive improvements being made and planned for Britain's gardens might increase peoples' chances of having to make a home insurance claim.

This was the major finding of new research from home insurance provider Direct Line. According to the firm, Britons spend an average of £200 per year on their gardens: six in ten were found to have installed a garden shed over the past three years, while 58 per cent have put in a patio and 51 per cent have added outdoor seating.

However, these upgrades could make homes on flood plains more vulnerable to sudden deluges. Interim findings from an official report on last summer's flash flooding in central and southern England - which cost insurance firms a total of around £3 billion in payouts - suggest that installing "impermeable" surfaces such as concrete patios in gardens makes it harder for heavy rain to drain off.

Frances Browning, spokesperson for Direct Line, said: "Homeowners should be fully aware of the potential implications of their garden improvements and choose their development materials carefully. There are plenty of permeable paving materials now available which absorb water and so will not require planning permission."